Category Archives: Health

Climbing trees may lead to this!

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So, this is what happened to big bro yesterday around 11:30 a.m. According to Houston, he was trying to get out of a tree in our backyard that he and Zeke were climbing. He says his foot slipped on the wet wood and then he fell on his elbow when trying to avoid a branch on the way down.

The x-ray of Houston’s “broken left humerus” (read: broken elbow).

Zeke says that Houston was attempting a “sliding” trick. But then again, that info comes from the dude who supposedly refused to get help after the fall and told Houston, “That’s what you get.” (Yeah, that has caused some animosity with the injured party, which will be dealt over the coming days for sure.)

I spotted Houston walking through the yard with a sourpuss face and went to find out what was wrong. I immediately saw his disfigured left arm, began to freak out, plopped him down in a deck chair and ran to get Stephen.

Strangely enough, Houston never cried, but I, on the other hand, was hysterical. His arm just looked horrible and I simply couldn’t think straight for a while.

Stephen was pretty flustered, needless to say, but decided that we could get Houston to the ER faster than could an ambulance. Now, just how to load Houston into the van?

Here’s what Houston’s elbow looked like on the outside. Can you understand why a mother might get a bit hysterical after seeing this?!

The couple attempts we made at barely moving Houston caused him to scream in pain. My emotions subsided briefly enough that I came up with a workable scheme: let’s just load the chair with him in it into the back of the van.

Thankfully, that worked quite seamlessly and my calm and common sense had been redeemed. I rode in the rear with Houston as Daddy sped off to the closest hospital with the entire clan in tow.

We pulled in at noon and Houston’s surgery began at 2:37 p.m. The doc had to manually reassemble his broken elbow bones, fitting them back into proper place like a puzzle. And then he inserted two pins to secure the healing fracture.

The operation only took about an hour and everything went well. God was surely guiding the hands of the surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists.

I spent the night with Houston, while Granny (who raced into town when she heard news of the injury) helped Daddy with the twins back home. And Houston was released from the hospital about 3 p.m. today and is now resting peacefully in bed.

A much-happier Houston from earlier today is psyched and ready to head home. Thank God for watching over our sweet boy!

Gramsey and Papa are going to take Gabe and Zeke for a few days, so that I can kick off this first week of recovery giving Houston full-time care and attention. But I know this is going to a long and arduous recuperation: soft cast for 10 days, then a hard cast for four weeks, followed by physical therapy. Ugh.

The biggies now are that we keep Houston out of harm’s way (another reason we wanted to have brothers visit Virginia); minimize the swelling and maximize the movement in his fingers; and continue to pray that the growth plates in his elbow mature unabated so that Houston will again have full mobility of his left arm.

It just breaks my heart that my little fish’s dreams of summertime swimming are dashed and that the next couple of months aren’t going to be what he had hoped. But I also know that Houston’s injury could’ve been much worse and that his surgery could’ve gone horribly awry. We’re doing alright, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Our first family camping trip!

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We did it … we all survived our first family camping trip! The grand adventure took place from 5/17-5/19 at Myrtle Beach State Park. And to make things even more exciting, we went with our good pals, the J-Crew: Christie, Logan, Asher, Jackson and Piper.

The campground was packed with a diverse array of outdoor enthusiasts and a few family-friendly motorcyclists visiting the Grand Strand for Bike Weekend. In fact, our first night there, we fell asleep to the constant hum of popping, revving and roaring of bikers cruising the beach streets.

Stinky, tired, bug-bitten & sunburned, the J-Crew &  Clan Dillingham manage to get a group shot on the day of our departure.

The second night was filled more with the sounds of nature and many native critters welcomed us to their subtropical forest home. Mosquitoes buzzed about in the surprisingly windless air. Copperheads were spotted at a nearby picnic table. And once the sun set, raccoons brazenly trolled the campsites in search of human food.

Admittedly, our six kids together made for some wildlife of their own, offering up quite the comedy show for our mellow neighbors from Quebec. But the Canadian couple was cool, and it was only expected that our brood was just a tad overstimulated with their introduction to the wonderful world of camping.

Of course, our exhilarating trip also entailed treks to the ocean, and unlike last summer, the 3 Amigos were confident at the beach! The were comfortable in the water and sand, and just relaxed, frolicked and had fun in the sun. We’re looking forward to going back to Myrtle for our family vacation (in a hotel) in July!

A gleeful Gabriel uses two light sabers to battle the surf @ Myrtle Beach.

Overall, the camping experience was a positive one, with some mistakes made, many lessons learned, and lots of good times and memories made. Can’t wait to put our new 10-person tent to use again for the next excursion to some place mountainous and a bit closer to home.

We kicked off our post-camping recuperation early morning on 5/20 with Houston’s adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy. It was an outpatient-procedure that went smoothly, thank God, and rather quickly to boot.

The recovery, on the other hand, has been rough and prolonged. In fact, at Houston’s ENT check-up just last week, the doc said he’s only 80% healed. Each day seems a bit better than the previous and Houston’s sleep apnea has all but vanished, but my brave boy still complains of some lingering throat pain on occasion.

An intent Zeke braces himself in anticipation of the next big wave.

And then if recovering from surgery weren’t enough, the entire family (sans Stephen) has been battling a nasty illness the last couple weeks. It started with Gabriel, whose fever and cough caused him to miss AWANA closing ceremonies on 5/29.

By the next morning, Zeke was hacking, too, so I took the twins the doc. Told it was just a gnarly virus working its way through town, the ailment eventually nabbed Houston, me and even Granny. Our regimen of over-the-counter meds has helped, but none of us is feeling ultra-healthy quite yet.

So, the boys and I had two weeks of major unproductivity. There was little schooling and structure, lots of TV watching and napping, and virtually no outdoor play, and our lethargic moods were accentuated by unusually tasteless food (for Houston’s tender throat) and a general feeling of listlessness.

Although Daddy told Houston & Asher tales of mermen smelling of cucumber, Houston wasn’t dissuaded from taking on the Atlantic & its chilly waves.

Luckily, Daddy never got sick, so he was able to tend to us. Plus, Granny came to visit for Memorial Day weekend to help with Houston’s post-op recovery and also made an emergency trek to town the following weekend to care for the virus sufferers. Sorry we got you sick, Granny!

Getting back in the swing of things, Houston and I kicked off June by finally completing his kindergarten phonics curriculum (although the book says he now is proficient at a second-grade reading level). Whatever … we’re just psyched we survived our first year of phonics and that we can spend the summer gobbling up books galore.

And just when I think I’ve hit a milestone as an educator, Houston proclaims that Ms. Frizzle from his current favorite show, The Magic School Bus, “is the coolest teacher ever.” My immediate reply: “Hey now, I think I get that honor, son.”

Munching on quickie snacks while patiently waiting for the fire to get going is par for the course when camping.

I mean, I might not have a bus that can jet through space or explore the depths of the ocean floor, but I did give my child the gift of literacy, for goodness sake! That should count for some level of coolness, right?!

And just when I needed it most, the CC Practicum took place in Burlington from 6/4-6/6. While the twins attended Play Camp and Houston Geo-Art Camp, I participated in discussions and workshops on this year’s theme: The Art of Arithmetic.

“You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself.” — Galileo

After all, Leigh Bortins, the creator of Classical Conversations, got her degree in aerospace engineering. So she wants to demystify arithmetic for home educators, especially those who have told themselves they just aren’t math people (read: me!)

Houston climbs into the kayak for an ocean voyage that didn’t last pass the breaking waves. Oh well, maybe next time, Mr. Logan!

Here’s the gist of what I learned: Human beings shouldn’t be excluded from any realm of knowledge, and that includes the challenging pursuits of mathematics. So, the more we understand math, the more we can understand beauty and the Creator who made it.

“Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe.” — Galileo

God is expressed through math in its absoluteness. Math, like God, is unchanging, consistent, orderly and logical. God is the “eternal inventor” of arithmetic, and it’s a privilege to be able to stretch our minds through all learning to better understand our magnificent and benevolent Heavenly Father.

This line of thinking is music to my ears, since I have always struggled with math. So, not only will I be teaching my children all subjects and their connected relationships through our awesome Creator, but I will also be redeeming my own education in the process. Good news!

From superheroes & pirates to cowboys, cops & fire fighters, & shows like “Samurai Jack” to Sunday school studies of the Old Testament battles of Jericho and Ai, the boys incorporate all their current likes into an armed mass of powerful weaponry.

The practicum also serves as fellowship between we Christian sisters (and a few brothers) and a way to foster relationships in the greater homeschool community. It aims to encourage and equip us a parents and teachers, so that we know we can achieve our education goals, even on those inevitable rough days.

The practicum reminds us that that we want our students to desire knowledge, and that each child is “a soul to be nurtured, not a product to be measured.” The annual events are part therapy, part instruction and part sermon — just what the doctor ordered for the tired homeschool mama!

On 6/7, we continued the fun with a few of our fellow CC families and hit Backyard Paradise for the June-birthday-boys bash. Of the six kids from Ms. Murphy’s Abecedarian class, four (including Houston on 6/26) have birthdays this month.

Off to church on Mother’s Day: I could ask for no better gift than my beautiful boys & wonderful husband … I’m so blessed!

So, we moms gathered all six boys and their siblings at the outdoor-play-equipment facility and celebrated the special June occasions. And for gifts, we did a book swap, which worked out great for the kids and didn’t break the parents’ banks.

The next day, Daddy took the 3 Amigos on the first boys-only outing in a while. They chose to go swimming at the Y, and had a blast showing off their matured swimming skills and using their new goggles.

This week, the boys are doing Vacation Bible School at Westover. The dudes absolutely love getting to hang with old friends, and enjoy learning about Paul’s journey to Athens, as well this year’s mission focus on India’s rail children. VBS rocks!

Comic relief

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Well, on Asgard, Thor doesn’t need to go to the doctor. But here on planet earth, that seems to be a lot of what the folks I love have been doing lately.

First of all, my 49-year-old sister, Lisa, had a minor heart on 5/1. She’s recovering quickly, thank God; but as it turns out, her cardiac issues (plaque build up in the arteries) are hereditary and apparently run in my mom’s side of the family.

This is news to us, though, ’cause my mother is adopted and knows pretty much nothing about her bio family, least of which, medical history. So we’re just now starting to figure out all this heart stuff.

Houston hangs out w/ Norse god, Thor, & his mighty hammer, Mjölnir, @ Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 4.

And then yesterday, my 46-year-old sister, Dina, had to be rushed to the hospital due to an intense dizzy spell. She has been known to have these alarming episodes on occasion, and again, thank the Lord, she is doing well now.

All these scares are beginning to freak me out, with all my weird, random health issues and the extra 40 pounds I’m lugging around. I’d better get into shape soon — then again, my genetics may be such that I should live it up while I’m still able. Ain’t that a pickle?!

Speaking of genes, Houston has inherited sleep apnea from Daddy, Grumps and Papa. As mentioned in the 3/30 blog, Houston has visited an ENT to check out his enlargened adenoids and tonsils, and we have since determined that he has minor case of the sleep disorder.

Gabriel, who confidently filled the role of Ladies’ Man @ Acme Comics’ biggest annual event, poses w/ a friendly Black Widow.

So, we finally decided to move forward with Houston’s surgery (removal of the aforementioned lymphoids), which is scheduled for 5/20. We’re not taking this procedure lightly, but we do think it is in Houston’s best interest to try to remedy his maladies while he’s young and while we still have access to quality healthcare.

Then during a routine dental cleaning on 5/6, I found out I need to have an old, stained filling repaired, as well as a tiny hole filled in one of my top incisors. That imperfection has been present for who knows how long … probably dates back to my days on Dead tour.

While I’m at my upcoming appointment, I’m going to get an updated cast made of my teeth so the doc can construct a new and improved night guard for me. Turns out, I do have slight TMJ, which is certainly a contributor to those bizarre, surging head pains I was getting a while back.

Houston & Daddy stand w/ Thanos, the Mutant Eternal & carrier of the Deviant’s gene. Like Thanos, Houston has some (sleep apnea) gene issues, so please keep him in your prayers during his adenoid/tonsil removal on 5/20.

The custom-fit mouth piece with TMJ-specifications will replace my five-year-old guard and should help in limiting the negative effects of my severe nighttime teeth grinding. I hope I won’t have to have any major dental work done for a while. Man, getting old’s lame.

We’ve been visiting a new church since early April. We love Westover and have grown spiritually in our near two years there, but I felt the need to test the waters at some of our city’s other wonderful houses of worship, namely a small, but vibrant church called Mercy Hill.

Stephen has been supportive of my yearning to seek out a church that it just a bit more personal, but steadfast in his loyalty to Westover, which did a great job of reaching out to our family. It’s just we never felt 100% connected there — really a daunting task for any church as large and populated as Westover.

Even though the Joker was lurking around, Gabriel & Zeke feel safe in the presence of the Dark Knight himself, Batman.

Mercy Hill is a new church plant, not even a year old. Theologically, it’s on the same page as Westover: an unapologetic and passionate gospel-centered church. But something about the energy at Mercy Hill is contagious.

We’re still not sure what we’re going to do yet. Westover is wonderful, especially the pastor and the children’s ministries. But Mercy Hill also has a great pastor and growing Sunday-school program for kids.

I just feel like we might be able to get plugged into a small Bible study and/or accountability community group a bit easier at Mercy Hill. Either way, we’re going to end up at a phenomenal church and we’re blessed to have such exceptional choices in our our neck of the woods.

Granny & Obi-Wan Kenobi (& a grinning Uncle Greg peeking between the two) make the most of the long line while waiting for this year’s free comic-book stash.

We opted to attend Mercy Hill today. For one, Stephen and I stayed up late last night and Westover has a morning services, whereas Mercy Hill has one in the evening. Second, Houston wanted to turn in his “Blessings Journal.”

Houston’s Mercy Hill homework was to write down (daily for one week) things for which he is thankful. Here are the results:

  1. Gabe and Zeke
  2. Asher
  3. Piano
  4. God
  5. Kara
  6. Mom and Dad
  7. Homeschooling

Tony Stark (looking dashing, as always) & me (blinking in a photo, as always) enjoy a sunny day @ Acme Comics. Hey, maybe Iron Man can build a device to help me keep my eyes open during pictures.

Noticeably, God didn’t place first. Hmm. And then on the sixth day, Houston’s original choice was “dairy farms.” I had been patient up till then, but c’mon … I’m not going to let my kid’s love of milk outweigh what should be a grateful attitude toward loving parents.

Thankfully, Daddy softened Houston’s occasional hard heart toward school and gently inspired him into choosing #7 as my Mother’s Day gift. Stephen says it was totally Houston’s choice, but I appreciate you planting the seed, baby!

The other gift I want is for the 3 Amigos to learn to say “ma’am” as habit. We’ve been working on the sir-ma’am thing for a long time now, so it’s high time the boys exhibit at least the bare minimum of manners as second nature. We’re making progress, but we’re not there yet.

Gabriel & Houston are pretty worn out from the day’s zaniness, whereas Zeke is just getting rolling here in this pose w/ Iron Man. See, Zeke was bummed about Spidey not being @ the event, so he didn’t really get into the groove till late in the day.

Stephen treated me like a queen all weekend. First, he took me out for a date night on Friday, while Jessie babysat the 3 Amigos. I had a delightful time with my hubby, enjoying a nice dinner downtown and a few drinks, while the dudes had good times with Miss J, who they hadn’t seen since March.

Then late last night, Stephen began cooking me my Mother’s Day feast: smoked pork-butt, chicken and potatoes. Sure, he had to start smoking the BBQ at 2 a.m., but hey, I’m worth it! Seriously, thanks for a memorable dinner with the family, Beeler!

Gramsey and Papa couldn’t make it to Grumps’ memorial, so they came to visit the day we got back from the mountains. The dudes were really excited to see them, so that helped them out in transitioning back to “normal life” around the home, and also gave Stephen and me a much-needed break.

Gabriel, who is a MAJOR fan Captain America fan, is on cloud nine when he gets to hold the original Avenger’s mighty shield.

Then after Gramsey and Papa hit the road the next day, Miss Christie took the boys for a few hours to give Stephen and me a chance to unwind from all hectic happenings of that past week. It’s great to have such wonderful family and friends … thanks, y’all!

Late April also offered up an evening with Lisa Bailey, who is the CC state manager. It was an informal pep talk for the moms in my CC community. Lisa talked about practical ways to  keep up with summer homeschooling and our all-around classical education goals. Never hurts to take part in a little motivational therapy!

Houston went to a piano party at Miss Julie’s on 5/3. It was a students-only affair and I didn’t have anyone to watch the twins, so I urged an apprehensive Houston to attend solo. His teacher assured me that she would make him feel right at home and mentioned the fact that Mikey, a CC buddy, was also going to be at the party.

Houston compares his biceps to no other than the green giant himself, the Incredible Hulk.

Turns out, Houston had a blast and didn’t want to leave when we came to pick him up. Julie says he was even one of the first kids to volunteer to play a couple pieces of music, regardless of the fact that he’s only had a few lessons … so much for unsocialized homeschoolers, eh?!

At a recent used-curriculum sale, I ran into Kim, the former midwife who just so happens to be the one who birthed Houston into the world. I knew she was a homeschool mom from a prior but brief CC encounter; but this event actually gave us a chance to chat, so of course, we talked about that momentous moment nearly six years ago.

Funny thing is Kim’s most vivid memory wasn’t my horrendous 34-hour labor and delivery or Houston’s beautiful newborn gaze; rather, it was Granny and the Texas dirt we put under the bed. Granny does have a way of leaving an impression on people … classic.

So on that note, happy Mother’s Day to all you uniquely awesome mamas!